The Philippines' frozen-pork inventory as of June 18 rose 78.42% to 32,954.66 tonnes from 18,469.81 tonnes during the same period last year. The bulk of the inventory consisted of imports, at 31,754.40 tonnes, according to the latest data from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), as reported by the BusinessMirror.

Locally produced pork in cold storages reached only 1,200.26 tonnes, according to the NMIS data.

Meanwhile, the country's dressed-chicken inventory as of June 18 also increased, more than double that of last year, at 25,856.85 tonnes, from 10,023.9 tonnes.

Half of the inventory were imports and the remaining half came from local producers.

Locally produced dressed chicken in cold storages as of June 18 stood at 12,06.09 tonnes, more than triple the volume last year, which was 3,740.04 tonnes.

Imported dressed chicken in the country's cold storages during the reference period reached 12,950.76 tonnes, which was 106.09% higher than the 6,283.87 tonnes recorded a year ago.

The NMIS clarified that the figures did not include fresh, chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat, as well as those already in distribution channels.